CATHOLIC FAITH AT HOME RESOURCES

for our STELLA MARIS

Family of Parishes

including:

St. Thomas More, St. Bernadette,

St. Mary & St. Peter

March 10

WHAT IS LAETARE SUNDAY?

Today is the halfway mark of the Sundays of Lent.

This Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday

for the first word of the

Entrance Antiphon laetare (rejoice).

it is a Sunday of joy.

The celebrant has the option to wear rose-colored vestments.

This is also the Second Scrutiny in preparation

for the baptism of the RCIA "Elect" at the Easter Vigil.

START SOMEWHERE CHALLENGE

GET BACK INTO SPIRITUAL SHAPE

The Start Somewhere Challenge at Stella Maris invites all Catholics

to attend at least one Eucharistic event

(Mass, quiet prayer in a church, a talk, a concert)

between February and July 2024.

There’s plenty to choose from because we’re

launching our own Eucharistic Revival.

Click the link below to watch Brad Bursa explain this challenge:

BRAD DISCUSSES STARTING SOMEWHERE

Click the link below to DOWNLOAD the Eucharistic Revival @ Stella Maris Flyer:

EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL @ STELLA MARIS FLYER

EUCHARISTIC SAINTS

A LENTEN TALK

MAR. 13, 2024 —

ST. CLARE OF ASSISI

Where: St. Bernadette Church (1479 Locust Lake Rd.)

When: 7pm Talk followed by Wine & Cheese Reception

Who: St. Clare was one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi. Like Francis, Clare had an intense love of poverty. She was also deeply devoted to the Eucharist. She is often depicted holding the Eucharist in a monstrance because, as the story goes, Clare once fended off an invading army by holding high the monstrance.

Keynote Speaker: Mother Seraphina Marie, FDM

Mother Seraphina is the Community Servant

of the Franciscan Daughters of Mary,

pro-life sisters, founded to uphold

the dignity of every human person from the moment of conception until natural death.

Mother and the sisters operate the

Rose Garden Home Mission in Covington,

the first fully Catholic Pregnancy Care Center

in Northern KY, the only no-questions-asked

local Food Pantry, where neighbors can r

eceive food each day the Mission is open,

and the Rose Garden Center for Hope & Healing,

Northern KY’s first Free Medical & Dental Clinic.

EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES EXHIBITION

Stella Maris is hosting Bl. Carlo Acutis’ Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition

from Feb. 16-Mar. 17,

with panels split

between the four churches.

Due to space constraints and constant facility usage,

we are unable to have all of the panels displayed

in one location for the whole month.

Travel from one of our parishes to the next to “catch them all!”

THIS IS THE LAST WEEK TO VIEW THEM!

Click the link below to learn more about this Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition:

CARLOS ACUTIS EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES EXHIBITION

INTERESTED IN

BUILDING A

HOME CHAPEL???

The Wall Street Journal (2/8/24) reports that home chapels

are appearing more frequently in large houses across America.

Home chapels were once thought of as something found

in medieval manors, not modern neighborhoods.

In more Catholic times, large households often had chapels

to care for the spiritual welfare of the families and servants.

Today’s chapels have a more personal purpose than in the past.

They can be house additions or stand-alone structures.

They are not meant to replace the church

to which the owners might belong or

provide services beyond the immediate family.

Click the link below to read more about this surprising trend:

HOME CHAPELS

NEW MOVIE

RELEASING

THIS WEEEKEND!

"CABRINI"

Cabrini is an American biographical drama film

directed by Alejandro Gómez Monteverde

and written by Rod Barr, based on a story by both.

The film details the life of Catholic missionary

Francesca Cabrini, portrayed by Cristiana Dell'Anna,

as she encounters resistance to her charity

and business efforts in New York City.

After witnessing disease and poverty in the slums of New York,

Italian immigrant Francesca Cabrini embarked on a daring

journey to persuade the hostile mayor

to provide housing and healthcare

for hundreds of orphaned children.

Click the link below to watch the trailer:

TRAILER FOR "CABRINI" MOVIE

Click the link below to read a review of the movie:

CABRINI MOVIE REVIEW

THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY

VIDEO REFLECTIONS

This Lent the Cincinnati Archdiocese

has prepared gift for you:

video reflections on the

Seven Sorrows of Mary,

one video for each week of Lent.

These videos are short and spiritually fruitful.

Each of our newly ordained priests collaborated

with us on this project, so it’s an opportunity

for you to meet them as well.

This week’s reflection on the Third Sorrow of Mary

features Fr. David Tran

from St. Ignatius.

Click the link below to watch Fr. Tran's reflection:

FR. TRANS REFLECTION

NOVENA PRAYERS

ST. JOSEPH

STARTS: MARCH 10

ENDS: MARCH 19

Saint John Paul II called him the Guardian of the Redeemer.

He's also known as the Protector of the Church,

the Terror of Demons, Hope of the Sick and

Comfort of the Sorrowing.

He has many titles and patronages!

It's St. Joseph :)

Click the link below to pray this novena:

NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH

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SPECIAL NINE MONTH NOVENA

TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

BEGINS MARCH 12

Our Lord has not called us to fear.

No matter the darkness of our age,

men and women of faith are not without the

truth and love of Christ,

nor the faithful care of His mother.

It was during an age much like our own

when Our Lady first appeared

to Saint Juan Diego some 500 years ago.

Then, too, the world wrestled with famine and disease,

and war in the Holy Land threatened to reduce

that beautiful and tortured region to chaos.

Then, too, poisonous confusion from within the Church

corroded the faith of Christians the world over.

Through Saint Juan Diego’s humble and courageous

cooperation with grace, Our Lady claimed

the New World for Christ, drawing nearly

nine million new souls into the Church

by the time of Saint Juan Diego’s death in 1548.

It is this same maternal care and protection that

we seek today—a care and protection that

she will grant us, should we earnestly ask for it.

Despite the persecution we’re now facing,

confusion in the Church, and the temptation to despair

– maybe even because of those difficulties –

Catholics are still filled with supernatural hope.

We know that we are not alone in the battle for America’s soul.

In times of great crisis, the Church calls upon

the faithful to turn to Our Lady in prayer

to intercede on our behalf.

Click the link below to join the nine month novena that begins March 12:

NINE MONTH NOVENA TO OUR LADY

SPECIAL PRAYERS

2024 YEAR OF PRAYER

The Vatican presented initiatives to

"rediscover the value of prayer"

during the 2024 Year of Prayer

in preparation of the Jubilee 2025.

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The Prayer for This Week During This Year of Prayer

One of the chief penitential practices of Lent — almsgiving —

is a way that we make a gift of self

for the good of others — an offering of self-donation.

This desire fueled the holiness of this zealous missionary saint,

St. Francis Xavier Cabrini,

and this prayer can be great fuel for our Lenten journey.

Jesus, I feel myself dying of love of you.

It is a great sorrow for me, a slow martyrdom

not to be able to do more for you.

O my Lord!

Stretch every fiber of my being, dear Lord,

that I may more easily fly towards you;

give me work to do so that I may lead

souls to your divine heart.

AMEN

For Peace in the Middle East

Click the link below for several prayers for Israel

and also a list of the names of the hostages!!

PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL AND HOSTAGES NAMES

NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL

NEW WEEKLY INFO

Video: Get Ready for the

National Eucharistic Pilgrimage!

On Pentecost Sunday, May 17, 2024, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage

will commence from four different locations,

forming a cross over our land as each pilgrimage caravan

makes its way to Indianapolis for the

National Eucharistic Congress July 17-21, 2024.

Over 100,000 people are expected to participate

in the pilgrimage nationwide.

EWTN | In Depth just released a full-length interview

about the Pilgrimage and how it connects

to the National Eucharistic Congress.

Click below for that interview:

NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL PILGRIMAGE

Click below to check out the 5-minute feature on the Pilgrimage:

5 MINUTE FEATURE ON THE PILGRIMAGE

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An Historic Journey

Throughout the National Eucharistic Revival,

local communities are gathering in response

to God's invitation for renewal

calling on the Holy Spirit to bring the flame.

The pilgrimage will accompany Jesus

from city to city, lighting hearts on fire along the way.

Click below to explore the interactive map

following the four routes across

the United Sates and register

for one of the many free events.

INTERACTIVE MAP SHOWING 4 ROUTES

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Lenten Eucharistic Prayer Companions are ready!

These beautiful prayer guides will help you

keep prayer at the center of your Lenten practices

this year by guiding you in connecting

an hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament with the Mass.

Click below to download the Prayer Companion:

LENTEN EUCHARISTIC PRAYER COMPANION

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DETAILS AVAILABLE

A daily schedule for the National

Eucharistic Congress is live on our website.

You can now explore what this incredible

experience will look like day by day.

Preview the options for impact sessions in the morning

that speak to your particular vocation and mission.

Then, get excited for the dynamic revival sessions,

when the whole assembly will gather in Lucas Oil Stadium

to experience the power and love of Jesus.

These sessions—and the soon-to-be-announced

afternoon breakout sessions—

will be led by the expansive list of faithful speakers

who will join us in Indianapolis this summer.

Scroll through the updated schedule to

see many powerful opportunities for

encounters with Christ through prayer and the sacraments.

Click the link below for EVENT schedules:

EVENT SCHEDULES

Click the link below for IMPACT Sessions:

IMPACT SESSIONS

Click the link below for the SPEAKERS list:

SPEAKERS LIST

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If you see a link on your device's screen that says,

"View entire message”,

please click that link to continue seeing the entire newsletter.

REGISTRATION INFO FOR THE CONGRESS

WILL YOU BE THERE, TOO?

You can join us!

July, 2024

for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.

Directly experience the fruits of your intercession and

see its impact around the country.

Click the link below to REGISTER:

REGISTRATION FOR 10TH

NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONFERENCE

QUIZ! FOR THE WEEK

WHY ARE THERE STARS ON THE BACK OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL?

Scroll down to find the answer!

HUMOR

HIGHLIGHT

THE SUBSTITUTE ORGANIST

The pastor was preoccupied with thoughts of

how he was going to ask the congregation

to come up with more money than they were

expecting for repairs to the church building.

Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist

was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute.

The substitute wanted to know what to play.

"Here's a copy of the liturgy," he said impatiently.

"But you'll have to think of something to play

after I make the announcement about the finances."

At the announcements, the pastor said,

"Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty.

The roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected,

and we need $4,000 more.

Any of you who can pledge $100 or more,

please stand up."

At that moment, the substitute organist played the National Anthem ...

... and that is how the substitute organist

became the permanent organist!

GOSPEL READING REFLECTION

For MARCH 10, 2024

4th SUNDAY IN LENT

JN 3:14-21

VIRTUES NEEDED TO LIVE THE TRUTH

John 3:16 in isolation seems so beautiful and welcoming, but in context, Jesus’ words are shocking. At the same time they are good because they are true.

Apart from Jesus Christ we are on the way to perishing, not in mere oblivion, but in condemnation, because our works are evil.

Horses, cows, pigs, and chickens are not the only animals that live in barns. When it is dark outside and the farmer switches on the lights in his barn, the rats run for cover and the birds nesting in the rafters begin to sing.

What category do you prefer to be in:
a person who prefers darkness to light because your works are evil and you don’t want them exposed;
or a person who comes to the light because your works have been done in God and so you are happy for them to be clearly seen?

All of us are sinners and sinners want to hide that their works are evil. But God gave his only Son to us who are sinners to save us.

SCOTT HAHN'S

MASS READINGS REFLECTION

Click the link below to hear Scott Hahn reflect on

the 4TH SUNDAY OF LENT:

"LIVING IN THE LIGHT"

REFLECTIONS ON THE 4TH SUNDAY

OF LENT BY DR. HAHN

ANSWER TO QUIZ

WHY ARE THERE STARS ON THE BACK OF THE

MIRACULOUS MEDAL?

The back of the Miraculous Medal is engraved with

the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts and

the initial “M” topped with a cross.

These symbols are surrounded by a garland of twelve stars.

The twelve stars go far back in the Church’s history.

The Book of Genesis relates the first dream of Joseph,

in which twelve stars, the sun, and the moon bow down to him.

The stars were understood to refer to his brothers

and have since then symbolized the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Later, Our Lord called the Apostles to follow Him

and fulfill the Twelve Tribes,

so they also are present in the symbol of twelve stars.

In addition to this, twelve stars have been associated

with the Blessed Mother since the first century,

when John the Apostle received the vision

related in Revelation 12:

“And a great sign appeared in heaven,

a woman clothed with the sun,

and the moon under her feet,

and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

ST. THOMAS MORE WEBSITE LINKS

Faith Formation Activities & Events for every Month & Season

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BOOK

RECOMMENDATION

We need to be armed for battle!

At all times, and especially during these crazy times in this vale of tears,

we need to lay our foundation in Christ Jesus.

Spiritual reading helps us build and strengthen that foundation.

Order through your favorite book dealer.

This week's recommendation is:

THE REAL STORY OF

CATHOLIC HISTORY

Steve Weidenkopf

Anti-Catholics like to paint Church teachings in a way

that makes them seem vain, backward, or superstitious,

all in the hope of drawing people out of the Faith

and into sects or unbelief.

Catholic apologists fight back with facts and sound arguments.

But there’s another area where the Church’s enemies

tell their own false story of Catholicism: its history.

Whether it’s from the media, in classrooms, or out of the mouths

of pastors and politicians, we’ve all heard a version of Catholic history

filled with unrelenting violence, ignorance, worldliness, and bigotry.

It’s enough to make many believers question

whether the Church truly was founded by Christ!

In The Real Story of Catholic History,

Steve Weidenkopf gives you the truth.

We pray you will be excited to embark on purposeful

spiritual reading as a way to build a more prayer-filled,

Christ centered life.